Zukanovic and MacKelden join forces for Kubota Racing in Darwin

Kubota Racing’s Matthew MacKelden has engaged well-known Touring Car Masters, V8 Ute and Super2 racer Marcus Zukanovic as his co-driver for the Kings of the North event for Round 2 of the 2023 TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek at the famed Hidden Valley Raceway on 29 April - 1 May. MacKelden, a long-time stalwart for Kubota Racing, said the selection was based on both personal and corporate relationships. Zukanovic, a former V8 Utes and Commodore Cup Champion said he’s really keen to jump behind the wheel in Darwin and find out what all the fuss is about with TA2 racing here in Australia, especially as he’s had some level of experience with these type of cars in America in Late Models. Each driver will enjoy practice, individual qualifying sessions, individual races and two joint races on Sunday and Monday. Round 2 of The TA2 Muscle Car Series Framed by Hytek Steel Framing begins at Hidden Valley Raceway on Saturday 29 April, running through to the Labour Day public holiday on Monday 1 May, with live coverage on SBS, Fox Sports and streaming on Kayo.

QUOTESMatt MacKelden, driver #5 Kubota Racing Ford Mustang “I’ve known Marcus since back in the V8 Utes days and we’ve always had a tonne of laughs around the race tracks of Australia, so I know the banter will be strong between us. “Also his partner in TCM is R&J Batteries who supply all the batteries for Kubota products in Australia which made the boardroom decision pretty easy when it came to who was driving the car. “When the news came out there was to be a two-driver race I couldn’t believe the amount of calls I received to ask who I was driving with and if a decision has been made but I know in Marcus Kubota Racing/R&J Batteries have chosen a safe pair of hands who has real-time experience with the Hoosier tyre due to his TCM campaign, and is used to the responsibility of keeping a car in one piece with view to finishing all the races.” Marcus Zukanovic, co-driver #5 Kubota Racing Ford Mustang “I’m pumped to get up North and have a skid because from everyone I speak to, whether they’re current series drivers, V8 Supercars drivers or Dunlop Super 2 drivers, they all rave about the class which I’m not surprised about because I did some Late Model racing in the US which is quite similar and had a ball. “I’ve done quite a few races at Hidden Valley and it’s a place I love, not only the track but the whole town as well, so when the conversation came up between R&J Batteries and Kubota, I couldn’t say yes quick enough.” “I know Matt is currently seventh in the series, so I need to make sure I do my part to make sure he leaves Darwin still in a strong position, but I’m certainly looking forward to going toe-to-toe with some of the names I’ve competed against in the past in V8 Utes and Dunlop Super 2, I think its going to be a great weekend.”